Hoist



vMarch wmf w'. o. LADwlG HoIsT l Filed April 12, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f.

INVENTOR 'WALTER o.LADw|G ATTORNEYS Mara, 26, 1946.

w. o. LADwlG l 2,397,271

HoIsT Filed April 12,y 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTR WALTER o.LAow|G ATTORNEYS March 26, 1.946. f w. o. LADwlG HoIsT 4 sheets-shet s Filed April 12, 1945 INVENTOR WALTER o.| ADw|G BY- ////v ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES HOIST Walter O. Ladwig, Milwaukee, Wis. assignor to Otto Ladwig & Sons, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application April 12, 1945, serial No. 537,952 10 Claims. (C1. 212-35) This invention appertains to loading and unloading and more particularly to a novel crane for facilitating the handling of material.

In the manufacture oi concrete and similar blocks, much difficulty is experiencedin the transferring of green building blocks .from the molds to the cars utilized for conveying the blocks into the kilns. Not only is this a laborious and timeconsuming job,v but where the green blocks are handled by hand, the blocks are often damaged.

It is, therefore, one of the salient objects of my invention to provide a novel hoist or crane which will effectively receive the iblocks from vthe molds and transfer the same to the truck kilns in ya rapid manner without `danger of injuring the blocks and with the reduction of manual labor.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a novel hydraulic or air-operated 'hoist for lifting and placing articles of any type 'from one point to another, which will be easy to oper` ate and which can be readily manipulated by the ordinary layman.

A further object of my invention 'is to provide a novel hoist or lcrane having a `swinging boom with an air or similarly operated piston 4so a-rranged relative to the boom that the boom can be quickly and conveniently yraised and lowered at the will of the operator of the crane,

A further important object of my invention lis to provide a load-carrying extension on the :boom piyotally connected therewith, vin combination with novel means for maintaining 'said extension parallel to the ground irrespective ofthe angular position of the boom, `whereby danger Vof accidentali-y dumping the load is reduced to a minimum.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hoist or crane which can be 'readily lassociated with a column or po-st and one which Vwill occupy a minimum Vamount of 'floor space.

A still iurtherimportant object yof my 4invention is to provide a hoist A.or crane of the .above character, which will be durable and eicient lin use, one 'that will be simple and easy "to manufacture and 'one which can be placed upon lthe market and set up for `use at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, .as will 'be 'hereinafter more specically described, claimed 'and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side-elevational View of Amy novel hoist Vor crane, parts of the view being shown broken away and in section to illustrate .structural detail.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on rthe line 2-2 oi'Figure 1,'looking in the direction of the arrows. s

'55 horizontally disposed channel beam 1.8.

Figure 3 is an enlarged kdetail fragmentary vertical view taken Substantially on the line .3-3 of Fignrei, locking in the direction .of r`the arrows illustrating the ,novel vmechanism employed for 5 raising and .lowering the boom.

vlEi-gure 4 is an enlarged detail horizontal sectional-view taken on the line i-Ll of Figure l, lookingin the y.direction ofthe arrows, illustrating the connection iof the boom with the swinging support.

Figure i5 a :sectional view similar to Figure 4, but taken on the line 5-5 ci Figure 1, looking in the direction .of the arrows, illustrating the connection yof the supporting .strut or auxiliary 15. boom .utilized for keeping the load-carryingextension in a horizontal position at all times.

Figure '6. is an enlarged detail vertical sectional View taken ,on the line 6--6 of Figure 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows, .showing the loadcarrying llcasket and its Aconnection with the .boom

extension.

Figure y7 4is .a detail horizontal sectional view taken ,on the line 1-1 of Figure 1, showing the load-.carrying basket.

Figure '8 :isa .detail side Yelevationalyiew ofthe basket. y

`Figline 9 Lis a .side elevational view of a slightly modified form of my lnovel 'hoist or crane.

Figure vv10 vis `a top plan view of the same.

Figure lil is 4an `enlarged detail vertical sectional 'view taken `ont-he line I I-Il of Figure 9v, looking 'in the directionoi the arrows, illustrating the novel means employed for raising fand lowering ithe boom. f

`I=Figure .12 is a detail substantially `horizontal sectional view taken .on .the .line 12--112 of Figure T9, looking iin the 4direction of the arrows, illustrating the connection'between the boom Aand its support and the guide for said boom.

40 Fig-ure 113 is fa .detail Afragmentary sectional view taken von the-line lIIS-1310i Figure 9, Vlooking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating a .pre1 ferred meanslof :connecting l.my `crane with a column .or post.

Referring Lto the fdrawingsin detail, wherein similar reference lcharacters vdesignate correspending :parts throughout 'the several views, the letter nC generally indicates lmynovel hoist or crane and vthe sameincludes a swinging support'- ing structure I5 for the boom I6.

Thesupporting structure l5 isin th'e nature of a Ibracket Aand can consist-I of an upright channel beam l1 of a U shape in cross section," and this beam has formedthereon or secured thereto a A reiniorcing plate '|'9 can be employed for bracing the vertical .and horizontal 'beams l1 and I8. In order that the supporting structure l5 can be swungja't different angles upper and lower'bearing brackets rotatably receive bearing studs Y2'2 carried by the terminals of the vertical beam I1. The bearing brackets 28 and 2| form admirable means for permitting the convenientI connection of the supporting-.structure I for swinging movement with a supportV such as a wa11,.or the like. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bearing brackets can be mounted upon a supporting column 23. Y

an upstanding bracket .46, welded or otherwise secured -to the inner end of the boom extension, and the rear end of the auxiliary boom 45 is pivotally connected to the verticalY beam I1 of` the supportingr structure I5 by a pivot bolt 41. This bolt can be placed in the desired openings 25. A brace j rod structure 31 can be'utilized for connecting u-shaped clamp bolts .24 are employed for con-Y Y' necting these brackets to the column.

In accordance with my invention the flanges of the vertica1 beam I1 are provided Vwith a plu- Y rality of equi-distantly spacedadjustment openk ings for a purpose, which will be later set forth. The horizontal beam I8 is provided with A Vthe boom from the ground. Welded or otherwise secured to the lower face ofthe boom above the horizontal beam` I8 is a rib 21', and this rib is provided with a series of openings 28. Placed between the boom I6 and. the horizontally dis-y posed beam I8 is the operating mechanism 29 for raising and lowering the boom. This operatingl mechanism includes a cylinder having mounted therein for sliding movement a piston 3|. Secured to theY piston and/extending,y throughA the upper .head of the cylinder is a piston rod 32,

' and this piston rod terminates vin a yoke33 for embracing.' the rib 21. A pivot bolt 34 passes throughsaid yoke and through any one of the openings 28. The lower end of the cylinder 30 has formed thereon or securedthereto a dependingU-shaped saddle which is adapted to Vembrace Vthe beam I8. A pivot bolt 36'extends through the saddle and any ofthe selected openings 26. Obviously, the operating mechanism can be adjusted back and forth so as to vary the position thereof relative tothe pivot point of the boom I6 and by varying the positionof the operating mechanism, the height .of theV raising and lowering of the boom can be controlled.

One Vof. the important features of my invention is the Yprovision of aboom extension 31, andthis extension is in the nature of a track, for a purpose, which' will be later set forth. 1 This track or boom extension 31 is of an inverted U Vshape in cross section andis provided with inturned flanges or'guides 38. The inner end of the boom .extension 31 has' ears 4I) formed thereon which ernbrace the outer end of the boom I6. A pivoted bolt 4I pivotallyconnects these ears with the boom."

Mounted for traveling movement along th'e boom extension is a wheeled trolley or carriage 42,`

and the wheels thereof travel in said flanges or guides 38. Secured to this carriage for movement therewith is a Asuspension cable. 43, and this cable in turn has connected therewith the device` 44 vforcarrying the load. This device will be later described.

By forcing the' piston ofthe operating mech? anism 29 toward the Vupper end of theV cylinder. the-boom I6 can be raised and by allowing the piston .to slide downwardly inthe cylinder the boom can be lowered. Y Y

Meansis provided for maintaining lthe boom extension'in a horizontal plane, and this can ,be accomplished `bythe use of an auxiliary boom 45.. 'The forwardk end of the auxiliary vboom, '45 is pivotallyV connected as at 45 to the upper vend, of

the upper'end of the bracket 46 with the outer end of the track or boom extension 31. Ob- .Viously, the auxiliary boom 45 Yis so positioned relative -to the rmainV boom I6, that during the raising and lowering of the main boom, the auxiliary boom will swingthe boom or track extension 31 on the main boom I6 and maintain said .extension in a horizontal plane at all times.

The device 44 for carrying theload can be in the nature of a grpple' or'the likeaccording'to the character of the'material being'hadled. InY

the present instance,the device 44 has been esinner ends'of supporting lingers 56.

pecially designed for handling building blocks and the same is constructed in the nature ofY a basket or platform for. receiving blocks.V Hence, the same includes a transversely extending main bar 48 having sockets 49 therein for receiving the As many of these fingers can -be used as desired, and the samecan be adjusted relative to one another by placing said ngers in different sockets 49.` Set screws 5I are threaded into the main bar 48 for structed that blocks --and theA like can -be readily` binding engagement with the inner ends of the ngers. Secured to the oppositeV ends of the main bar 48 are upright straps or the like 52, and these straps are in turnfsecured to a suspension bracket 53. This suspension bracket embodies a top U-shaped'frame 54 Vhaving formed on its rear ends dependinglegs, 55, and these legs have their lower ends connected by cross brace y56. TheA cross brace 56 is in turn connected'to the main supporting bar 48 by forwardly extending legs 51. The cable 43 is connected to the front central portion of the bracket 53 by means of a'ii Y eye 55 and a link 56. The device 44 is so -conslid on the lingers 56, and as the cable willV be f z directly above the block supported by the ngers,

the balancingof the basketV is assured. It can be seen that the front of the device 44 is open,

whichallows the convenient sliding of blocks on Y and off thefingers. Y n y Any preferred means can be utilized for controlling the flow of uid, such as air under pressure to and from the lower end of the cylinder `3l). Connected with the cylinderl and communicating with a port formed therein is a length of Vflexible tubing 58. This tubing 58V is connected by suitable clips 58 withthe boom I5 and with the vcable 43. Thetubing 58 communicates 'with a substantially U-shaped air conduit pipe 60 which is .rigidly secured to the frame 53. Communicating vwith one end of the pipe 60 is an air feed flexible conduit tube 6I which leads from a' suitable sourceof Ysupply of air under pressurel Arranged inthe, length of the pipe 6) adjacent to the air .feedconduitor tubing 6I is a handoperated control valve 62. The operatorA by actuating the lever of the Vhand valve can control theV ilow of air under pressure from the source of supply to the cylinder 36 for the raising of the'boom.

Carried by the opposite end of the pipe 68 is an,

outlet or bleed valve 63 and by actuating this bleed valve, escape of air from the conduit 6D vand the cylinder is permitted. The weight of theV boom andthe load carried thereby Will automatically lower the` piston inthe cylinder.

From the foregoing description, it can .be seen desa-271;

that not. only can the boom. with a loadl be quickly raisedv and lowered but that also the boom can be swung in an arc of a circle on the vertical pivots 22. Thus the load can be readily moved from one point to another. Likewise, due to the traveling carriage 42 and the formation of the boom'. extension. 31, the basket. 44 or grapple as the case4 may be can be moved longitudinally of the boom.. Means can be provided for limiting the swinging. of. the boom in either direction on the column or post 23 if such should be desired.

Vlin viewv of the fact. that the boom extension 31 will always be maintained in a horizontal plan the accidental movement of the wheeled carriage ft2 on the tracks on said extension will be pre'- Velltell.V

In Figures 9 to 13, inclusive, I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention. In this form I. also provide a suitable supporting structure 65 which can include upper and lower bearing members 86 and 61 firmly united by brace ployed for connecting the outer end of the platformwith the lower bearing S1.

Mounted upon the platform 13 are two spaced l pairsv of guide bars 15, and these guide bars can be of an angle iron construction, if so desired. The upper ends of these angle bars 15 can be connected to a head or cap 16 which firmly unites said angle or guide bars 15. Brace bars 11 can be employed for connecting the head- 16 with the platform. Guided by the angle bars 15 is a cross head 18, and this cross head has connected thereto the piston rod 19 of the operating piston 80. This piston is mounted for sliding movement in a cylinder 8l which depends from the Aplatform 1.3. Mounted above the platform 13 is the forwardly extending boom 82, and the boom in this form of my invention can be constructed from a length of I beam. The cross head 18 can include a cross bolt 83 which extends through said boom and the cross bolt can have mounted thereon anti-friction roller sleeves 84. Carried by the ends of the Ibolt 83 are washers 85. These washers engage the outer faces of the guide or angle bars 15 and the boom 82 is mounted between said pairs of angle or guide bars. Consequently, movement of the boom is effectively guided by said pairs of guide or angle bars 15.

Pivotally connected to the forward end of the boom 82 is a boom extension 86 and this boom extension can be ci the same character as the boom extension 31 shown in the first form of my invention. It is to be also noted that this boom extension carries for traveling movement the load carrying basket 81 which is also of the same construction as the load carrying basket 44. In accordance with this form of my invention, I rigidly secure to the boom extension 86 an upright frame 83 and the upper end of this frame has pivotally connected thereto, as at 89, the auxiliary parallel boom 90. The `auxiliary boom 9G extends rearwardly of the frame 88 and the rear end of this auxiliary boom is connected to the platform 13 by a pair of toggle levers 9| and 92. The toggle lever 9| is connected by pivot pin 93 with the auxiliary boom, while the toggle lever 92 is pivotally connected by pin 94 with a rib S5 secured to the platform 13. This rib is provided with a. series-'1 of openings, and thefpivot pinl 94 can be: placed in any selected opening to varyv the position of; the toggle levers and the boom.. Itis to be noted that the meeting ends of theA toggle levers 91A and 92 are pivotally connected together by av pivot pin 9'5 and this pivot pin. extends through any selected openingA of a plurality or openings 9.6y formed in the inner end ofv the boomv82'. By this arrangement, it can. be seen that the boom andi the toggle levers can be adjusted tol suit varying conditions. A pivot link 91 is employed for connecting` the upper end of the toggle lever' Sli with` a cap 1'6, and this link 91 pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 83 and is connected with the cap 16 by pivot pin S8.

In use of this form of my invention, when air is admitted tothe lower end of the cylinder 8l the piston 88 will bevraised and this will forcibly move the boom 82 to a raised position. In view of ,they connection ot the auxiliary beam eil with theA toggle lever Si' and the upright frame 88' the boom extension :it` will bev maintained in a horizontal position. When it. is desired to lower the boom, it is merely necessary to release the air from thebottom or the cylinder.

AFrom the toregoingl description, it can be seen thatzI have4 provided an exceptionally simple and durable; form of hoist which can be readily and easily manipulated by a layman. without particular skill or training,

. While I have. shown my hoist or boom as connectedk to. asupporting column.y in a building, it is 4 to be understood thatv my crane or hoist can be effectively used on a mobile device, such as a truck.

Changes in details. may be made without departing from thespi-rit. or the scope of my invention, but whatI claim as` new is:

l. A crane comprising a support, a boom pivotally mounted at its inner end. on said support, means, for swinging the boom on the support to diiierent angular raising and lowering positions, a track boom extension pivotally connected to the outer end of the boom, a load' carrier slidably mounted iin said track boom extension, and means for maintaining said track boom extension in a horizontal'. plane atv all times during the raising and lowering movement of the boom.

2'. A cranecomprising a support', a boom rockabl-y mounted at itsY inner end and upon the supportv for swinging movement in a lvertical plane to a raised and', lowered position, a boom extension pivotally connected to the outer end of the boom, a load carrier slidably mounted upon the boom extension, means for raising and lowering the boom, and an auxiliary boom structure pivotally connecting the boom extension with the support for maintaining said boom extension in a horizontal plane at all times during the swinging movement of the boom.

3. A crane comprising a support, a boom rockably mounted at its inner end upon the support for swinging movement in a vertical plane to a raised andv lowered position, a boom extension pivotally connected tothe outer end of the boom, a load carrier slidab-ly mounted upon the boom extension, means for raising and lowering the boom, and an auxiliary boom structure pivotally connecting the boom extension with the support for maintaining said boom extension in a horizontal plane at all times during the swinging movement ofthe boom, and means including a verticali pivot operatively vconnected with said support,v whereby the supportand boom can be swung together in a horizontal plane;

4. A crane comprising a support including a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, bearing brackets rotatably connected with the support whereby the support can be swung in a horizontal plane, means securing the brackets to a rigid member, a boom rockably connected at itsY inner end to the vertical leg, a ,track boom extension pivotally connected to the outer end of the boom, a carriage slidably mounted in said track boom' exten-,- sion, a load carrier secured to said carriage, a cylinder pivotally secured to the horizontal leg of the support, a piston slidably mounted in V,the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston extending exteriorly of the cylinder `and pivotally connected to said boom forwardly'of the vertical leg, means on said load carrier for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the cylindenand an auxiliary boom having pivotal yconnection with the track boom extension and to the vertical leg;

5. A crane comprising a support includinga vertical leg and a horizontal leg, bearingV brackets rotatably connected withr the support whereby the support can be swung in a horizontal plane,

means securing the brackets to a rigid member, a

, boom rockably connected at its inner end to the "vteriorly of the cylinder and pivotally connected Vto said boomforwardly ofthe vertical leg, means on said load carrier for controlling the flow'of fluid to and from 'the cylinder, an auxilliary boom pivotally connected with the track boom extension and to the vertical leg, and means for varying the position of the boom and the auxilliary boom on the vertical leg. Y

6. A crane comprising a support including a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, bearing brackets rotatably connected with the support whereby the support can be swung in a horizontal plane, means securing the brackets to a rigid member, a boom rockably connected at its inner end to thervertical leg, a track boom extension pivotally connected to the outer end of the booma carriage'slidablyv mounted in said ltrack boomextension, a loadv from the cylinder, an auxilliary boom pivotallyV connected with the track boom extension andrto the vertical leg, and means for varying the position of the cylinder and piston rod relative to the boom 'and'to the horizontal leg of the support. Y '7. A crane comprising a support including a vertical leg and a horizontal leg,'bearing-brackets rotatably connected with the supportwhereby the support can be swung in a horizontal plane, means securing the brackets to a rigid member, a main boom rockably connectedat its inner end y to the verticalleg, a track boomlextension pivotally connected to the outer end of the main boom, a carriage slidably mounted in Said track boom extension,ra load carrier secured to said` carriage, a cylinder pivotallysecured to the horizontal leg of the support, a piston slidably mountedin the cylinder, a pistonrod secured4 to.:

thepiston extending exteriorly'oi the cylinder and pivotally connected to said main boom for-Y wardly of the vertical leg, means on'said load carrier for controlling the ow of fluid to and from the cylinder,ran auxiliary Vboom pivotally connected with the track boom extension and to the vertical leg, means for varying the position of the main boom and auxilliary boom in the vertical leg of the support, Vand means for varying the position of the cylinder and piston rod relative to the horizontal leg of the main boom.

8. AA crane comprisinga support,jinc1uding a vertical leg and a horizontal leg, bearing brackets, means securing the bearing ybrackets to a I rigid member, means rotatably connecting the support with the bearing brackets for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, a main boom rockably connected at its inner end to the veritic-al leg, a-track boom extensionvpivotallycon-Y nected to the outer end of the main boom, a carriage slidably mounted in said track boom'exten-4 sion, a load carrier secured to said carriage, a cylinder pivotally secured to the horizontal leg of the support, a piston slidably mounted Vin the cylinder, a piston rod secured to the piston exf tending exteriorly of the cylinder and pivotally connected to said main boom forwardly ofthe vertical leg, means on said load carrier for con; trolling the ilow of fluid to and from the cylinder, an upright bracket rigidly secured to the inner end of the track boom extension, an auxiliary boom pivotally connected withthe upper end of the upstanding bracket and to fthe, Vertical leg, 'Y

' means for varying the positionof the main boom and the auxiliary boom on the vertical leg of the support, and means for varyingthe position of the cylinder and piston relative to the horizontal leg andthe main boom. l l Y' 9. A crane comprising a support, a main boom pivotally mounted at its inner'end on `said support for swinging movement inra vertical plane to a raised andfa lowered position, means for swinging the boom on the support to raised and lowered positions, a track boom extension pivot-V ally connected to the outer end ofthe main boom,

a load carrier movable longitudinally on the track y boom extension, and means including an auxiliary boom operatively connected to the support and to; the track boom extension for maintaining said track boom extension in a horizontal plane atall ytimes vduring the raisingand lowering movement of the main boom. Y

10. A crane comprising a support including a platform, means rotatably mounting the support for swinging movement in a horizontal plane, an I upright guide carried by the platform, a mainV boom slidably mounted in said guide, a track boom extension pivotally connected to the ou-ter end of the main boom, aV load carrier slidably mounted in'said track boom extension, an upright vframe secured tosaidtrack' boom extension, an auxiliary boom pivotallyconnected to theY upper endof said uprightV frame, a toggle lever con-` Y Y nection between the platform and the inner end of said auxiliary boom, a'link pivotally connect ing the inner end of the auxiliary boom tothe uprightguide, a cylinder rigidlyconnected to and depending from said platform, a piston slidably mounted inthe cylinder, a piston rod connected f to the piston and pivotally connected tothe main boom, the inner end of said `main boom being pivotally connected to the toggle, and means -on said load carrier for controlling the flow of iluid to and 'from thecylinder. 1 i 

